BLIND GRADUATE STUDENT CHRISTINE HA AND U.S. ARMY CONTRACT SPECIALIST JOSH MARKS NAMED TOP TWO FINALISTS ON "MASTERCHEF"

Becky Reams from Stilwell, KS, Eliminated from Competition

Season Finale Airs Monday, September 10, on FOX

Season Four Open Casting Calls Begin in San Diego on October 6

Tonight, judges Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot announced the Top Two finalists on MASTERCHEF: Christine Ha, a blind graduate student from Houston, TX, and Josh Marks, a U.S. Army Contract Specialist from Jackson, MS. Becky Reams, a food photographer from Stilwell, KS, was sent home after an emotional elimination round.

"Joe, Graham and I have been utterly blown away by the standard of cooking this season," said judge and executive producer Gordon Ramsay. "Josh and Christine's cooking styles and personalities couldn't be more different, but they both truly deserve their spot in the final and they're both very hungry to win. Trust me, it's going to be one hell of a battle for the title of MASTERCHEF."

"Josh and Christine have grown leaps and bounds since audition day, and it has been a pleasure for Graham, Gordon, and myself to watch these two incredibly strong competitors transform from talented home cooks to inspiring MASTERCHEF finalists," judge Joe Bastianiach noted.

"Christine and Josh have proven that they deserve a spot in the finale," added judge Graham Elliot. "From Christine's incredible palate to Josh's remarkably bold flavors, both home cooks are not only exceptionally talented, but their undeniable passion for cooking has inspired us as judges."

Next week, on the season finale airing Monday, Sept. 10 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the Top Two finalists have one last chance to prove to the judges that they have the passion, skill and drive worthy of the MASTERCHEF title. In their final challenge, Christine Ha and Josh Marks will conceptualize and prepare the most important three-course meal of their lives. Later, the judges will reveal America's next MASTERCHEF, and one deserving home cook will walk away with a book deal and the $250,000 grand prize.

MASTERCHEF will once again travel across the country and give talented home cooks the chance to prove they have what it takes to make their mark on the culinary world. Open casting calls for Season Four of MASTERCHEF will be held on the following dates:

Cities Dates
San Diego, CA Saturday, Oct. 6
Minneapolis, MN Saturday, Oct. 13
Nashville, TN Saturday, Oct. 13
Chicago, IL Saturday, Oct. 20
Miami, FL Saturday, Oct. 20
Dallas, TX Saturday, Oct. 27
Cleveland, OH Saturday, Oct. 27
Los Angeles, CA Saturday, Nov. 3
Boston, MA Saturday, Nov. 3
New York, NY Saturday, Nov. 10
Portland, OR Saturday, Nov. 10

Additional details, including venues and times, will be announced soon. Visit www.masterchefcasting.com for the most up-to-date audition information.

The Top Two finalists reveal their favorite MASTERCHEF moments:

Christine Ha
Age: 32
Occupation: Graduate Student
Hometown: Houston, TX
Mystery Box Challenges Won: 1
Team Challenges Won: 4
Keep up with Christine at:
www.twitter.com/MC3Christine
www.facebook.com/MC3Christine
Christine's favorite MASTERCHEF moment: "My favorite MASTERCHEF moment is undoubtedly meeting all of these people who are so different from me and each other, and observing how, regardless of our various backgrounds, we share a common love for food and the creation of it. Experiencing some of the most intense moments of our lives together fostered inexplicable bonds, and many of these people have become family to me."

Josh Marks
Age: 24
Occupation: U.S. Army Contract Specialist
Currently Resides: Jackson, MS
Mystery Box Challenges Won: 1
Team Challenges Won: 1
Keep up with Josh at:
www.twitter.com/MC3Josh
www.facebook.com/MC3Josh
Josh's Favorite MASTERCHEF moment: "Cooking at Venice Beach for the Food Truck Team Challenge was, hands down, my favorite moment. The best part was when Gordon came in screaming at us, but when he tasted our food he simply said, 'It's delicious!' and walked out!"

On Tuesday, Sept. 18 MASTERCHEF fans can cook their favorite recipes from the show with the release of MASTERCHEF: THE ULTIMATE COOKBOOK. Readers can pick up kitchen tips from judges Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot, along with the Top 18 contestants from Season Three and some fan favorites from the show's first two seasons. MASTERCHEF: THE ULTIMATE COOKBOOK also presents more than 100 of Season Three's best recipes that will transform home kitchens into premiere culinary destinations.

MASTERCHEF is produced by Shine America and One Potato Two Potato and is based on the format created by Franc Roddam and Shine. Shine International handles distribution for the MASTERCHEF format. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers.

"Like" MASTERCHEF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion at #masterchef.

About Shine America:

Shine America is a world leader in producing and distributing compelling scripted and unscripted television and digital content, building brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Shine America is known for popular and award-winning original series including "The Biggest Loser", "Tabatha Takes Over" and upcoming series "The Face"; adaptations of Shine Group formats MASTERCHEF, "Minute to Win It," "One Born Every Minute" and "Parental Control"; long-running scripted hits "The Office," "Ugly Betty" and "The Tudors"; and over 20 ground-breaking original online series on MSN, Yahoo!, YouTube premium channels and other platforms, many of these produced in partnership with global brands such as Walmart, Toyota, Kraft Foods, Subway and Microsoft. Through its distribution arm, Shine International, Shine America distributes its extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries.

About One Potato Two Potato:

One Potato Two Potato was co-founded by Gordon Ramsay and Optomen Television in 2008 to exclusively create and produce worldwide content for Ramsay ventures across all media, including television, digital and publishing. Renowned for award-winning original programming, the company produces high-quality TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic, including the smash-hit HOTEL HELL, which is the highest-rated new network show of summer 2012; and MASTERCHEF, both for FOX; as well as massive U.K. hit "Gordon Ramsay Behind Bars" and "Gordon's Great Escape" for Channel 4.; and "My Kitchen," for UKTV's Good Food Channel. Ramsay's groundbreaking and hugely popular Channel 4 series, "Cookalong LIVE," aired as a special on FOX and has since become a successful format around the world. OPTP is also currently in development on several exciting unscripted and scripted projects, within and beyond the food genre, for network, cable and digital platforms in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. OPTP distributes its hugely popular TV programming and formats to more than 200 territories via Optomen International. The company became part of the All3Media group in 2010. Find out more about One Potato Two Potato at www.onepotatotwopotato.tv.